******UPDATE******We now have a large sample of Collared Doves from WA Hunters Forum donors. At this time we don't need any additional birds, but if you've already shot some we welcome those donations. Thanks again for your generosity.******************

As evidenced by posts elsewhere on this forum, the Washington hunter community has taken a great deal of interest recently in the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto). This is for good reason since this invasive species, native to the Middle East and Europe, is currently exploding in numbers in Washington. Since their numbers are still increasing exponentially, we won't know until years from now what their eventual effects, if any, might be on Mourning Doves and other native Washington species. In the meantime, at least, they do offer a nice hunting opportunity for Washington hunters and they are an interesting case study for how an alien species invades a novel environment.

Many of you have probably visited the public exhibits at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. What many people don't know is that behind the scenes the Burke Museum also hosts important research collections of plant and animal specimens. These collections contain archived and preserved samples of organisms collected across time and space for use by current and future generations of researchers. In fact, the Burke Museum's ornithology collection holds tens of thousands of bird specimens, eggs, and nests from across Washington, North America, and even the world. Many of these specimens are over 100 years old, and the collection is used daily by researchers from all around the globe to answer a wide variety of biological questions.

One thing our collection conspicuously lacks is a good sample of Eurasian Collared Doves from Washington that documents the ongoing early stages of this invasion. A series of these specimens at the museum will enable future comparative studies of Collared Doves' invasion of Washington and across North America.

Why are we reaching out to the Washington Hunter forums? Because Eurasian Collared Doves often occur on private property, it is difficult for us to arrange access to collect these birds ourselves. Since Eurasian Collared Doves (but not Mourning Doves!) are legal to hunt year-round in Washington, we are hoping some of you might be willing to collect specimens and donate them to our scientific research collection at the Burke Museum. If you already have Collared Doves in your freezer, we can gladly accept those too provided some basic requirements are met:

We need...

1. The exact date and location where each bird was collected. The name of the person who collected it.

2. The whole bird, to be frozen within 12 hours in separate zip-lock bags and labeled clearly with the above information. Birds should remain frozen, to preserve tissues for genetic sampling

It is ideal if you can transport the birds on ice to the Burke Museum in Seattle (email to arrange a drop-off), but we might also be able to drive out to you to pick them up, depending on location and quantity.

If you don't have frozen Collared Doves for us but have property where it is legal to shoot and there are lots of Collared Doves, we may be interested in arranging a visit to collect the birds ourselves depending on how many people respond.

Thanks again for considering donating your time and Collared Doves to the Burke Museum's research collection. Please spread the word and if you think you can help us out or have any questions, please send us an email at BurkeCollaredDoves@gmail.com

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” John Wayne

We are just south of Spokane. How many do you need? Might be able to trap some live ones, have not tried. They are a problem around grain storage. I will freeze the ones I kill.

Some posters have brought up good points. First, WDFW tells us that it's not legal to trap Collared Doves in Washington. In other words, donated birds will need to be shot, not trapped. We can also come to your property and shoot the birds ourselves if you have a lot of Collared Doves around and it's legal to shoot there.

Another poster brings up a good point that we're most interested in birds that have most of the plumage still intact. However, we can still use birds in pretty rough shape as long as the other requirements listed in the original post are met.

We would like to collect a series of 15 to 25 Collared Doves. Thanks for your continued interest. Please send an email to BurkeCollaredDoves@gmail.com if you are able to help us out or have any specific questions.

WDFW is out there as usual, they say one thing and then another, it's an invasive specie,there is no limit,no season and no licence requirement, yet it isn't allowed to be live trapped? My best guess is there will be a limit,a season, and a fee to shoot them in the near future,it will draw money for highways and byways in the Seattle metropolitan area.

We are just south of Spokane. How many do you need? Might be able to trap some live ones, have not tried. They are a problem around grain storage. I will freeze the ones I kill.

Some posters have brought up good points. First, WDFW tells us that it's not legal to trap Collared Doves in Washington. In other words, donated birds will need to be shot, not trapped. We can also come to your property and shoot the birds ourselves if you have a lot of Collared Doves around and it's legal to shoot there.

Another poster brings up a good point that we're most interested in birds that have most of the plumage still intact. However, we can still use birds in pretty rough shape as long as the other requirements listed in the original post are met.

We would like to collect a series of 15 to 25 Collared Doves. Thanks for your continued interest. Please send an email to BurkeCollaredDoves@gmail.com if you are able to help us out or have any specific questions.

@wildweeds..... nah man, they are classified the same as European Starlings. They are invasive, which means they impact the local wildlife drastically.They are infact in direct compitition with Band Tailed Pidgeons. and I would assume at some point, these damn new birds will completely displace the band tails to the point of extinsion.I don't think you'll see a hunting season for them in our lifetime

Logged

Stan Marsh: "My Uncle Jimbo says we gotta get up there early. Right Uncle Jimbo?"

Jimbo: "That's right, Stanley. Animals are much easier to shoot in the morning."

We are just south of Spokane. How many do you need? Might be able to trap some live ones, have not tried. They are a problem around grain storage. I will freeze the ones I kill.

Some posters have brought up good points. First, WDFW tells us that it's not legal to trap Collared Doves in Washington. In other words, donated birds will need to be shot, not trapped. We can also come to your property and shoot the birds ourselves if you have a lot of Collared Doves around and it's legal to shoot there.

Another poster brings up a good point that we're most interested in birds that have most of the plumage still intact. However, we can still use birds in pretty rough shape as long as the other requirements listed in the original post are met.

We would like to collect a series of 15 to 25 Collared Doves. Thanks for your continued interest. Please send an email to BurkeCollaredDoves@gmail.com if you are able to help us out or have any specific questions.

I've shot them, and Starlings around my place with a pellet rifle, so shot damage is not severe. Unfortunately, once you pop a couple of Starlings and Eurasian Doves, they seem to pass the word and avoid that area, so all I get are the dumb ones. The call of the Eurasian Dove is similar to the call of the Mourning Dove, but raspier especially at the end of the call, and they "hoot" when they are flying. It must be some sort of a warning to others, because they hoot when they fly over me and see me!

Logged

If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

When Bernie Madoff did it, it's called a "Ponzi Scheme"When Government does it, it's called "Social Security"

We now have a large sample of Collared Doves from WA Hunters Forum donors. At this time we don't need any additional birds, but if you've already shot some we welcome those donations. Thanks again for your generosity.